
Tax Preparation
Services
Free Tax Preparation
The Mulberry Community Service Center's Personal Finance Center coordinates the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provided in partnership with United Way of Central Florida. Our team of IRS-certified volunteers prepares tax returns at no cost for clients with household incomes of $75,000 or less. We e-file most returns, so if you are due a refund and choose direct deposit, you should receive your refund within a couple of weeks.
More than that, we are passionate about the financial stability of our clients. Building a savings account to help with emergencies is key to becoming financially stable. Our tax experts can help you split your refund to put cash into savings.
During the 2023 tax season, our 14 tax sites prepared 1,285 returns with 1,016 resulting in refunds. Over 13 percent of our taxpayers deposited their refunds to savings accounts for total savings of $472,179.
Late Filers
The Mulberry Community Service Center files taxes year-round to help late filers. In addition to current year tax returns, we can prepare tax returns for the previous three years as well. Please call (863) 425-1523 for an appointment.
To prepare for your tax appointment, please check below for a list of documents to bring, and don't forget your savings account information.

What to Bring to Your Tax Appointment:
The free tax return preparation service is provided through the United Way of Central Florida's financial stability initiative, which prioritizes the importance of emergency savings accounts. For this reason, you are requested to bring SAVINGS account information rather than checking account information for direct deposit of refunds. This enables us to continue providing the free tax return preparation service.
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Savings Account information including routing number and account number for direct deposit of refund
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Identification (driver’s license, photo ID, passport)
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If Married Filing Jointly: Both spouses must be present with photo IDs and Social Security cards or ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) for everyone listed on the return.
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Birthdates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the return
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Wage and earning statements (W-2, W-2G, 1099R, 1099 Misc, Social Security summary)
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Interest and Dividend Statements (1099-Int, 1099-Div)
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Forms 1095-A, B, or C Health Coverage Statements or Health Insurance Exemption Certificate
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Total paid for daycare and the provider’s tax identifying number
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Any other tax form such as an IRS PIN number
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Last year’s tax return, if possible
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IRS Letter 6475 (amount received for third stimulus payment)
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IRS Letter 6419 (amount of advanced child tax credit received)

The PFC staff and volunteers celebrate Alice Childs (left), honored as the "2019 Volunteer of the Year." Alice is a five-year volunteer, and our clientele love working with her year after year. Thank you, Alice!
2024 Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in being a volunteer? Please call Katie at (863) 425-1523, ext 103. We need greeters and preparers for the 2023 tax season, and would love to have YOU! We provide training free of charge, so you will be confident and competent in your ability to prepare simple tax returns. We schedule training in December, and tax season is the last week of January through the first week of April. We try to place you at the site of your choice, and most volunteers commit one day (about five hours) a week.
2023 Tax Preparation Sites
Bartow Church Service Center
Tax Site: First Presbyterian Church
355 S. Florida Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
Tuesdays: 9:00 - 2:00
Fridays: 9:00 - 2:00
Feb 3 - Apr 14, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 533-5822
Florida Children’s Museum
600 Bonnet Springs Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33815
10:00 - 5:00
Monday, Jan 30
Monday, Feb 27
Monday, Mar 27, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 687-3869
CJB United Way Children's Resource Center
650 Bonnet Springs Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33815
Thursdays: 12:30 - 4:30
Jan 26 - Apr 6, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 786-1306, x 294
Fort Meade Library
75 E. Broadway Street
Fort Meade, FL 33841
Mondays: 10:00 - 3:00
Jan 23 - Mar 13, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Haines City Library
111 N. 6th Street
Haines City, FL 33844
Fridays: 10:00 - 3:00
Jan 27 - Apr 7, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Hands of Hope America
Four Corners Community Center - Suite 3
16605 Sunrise Lakes Blvd
Clermont, FL 34714
Wednesdays: 10:00 - 3:00
Feb 1 - Apr 12, 2023
Walk in site
(352) 432-3824
Heart for Winter Haven
1951 8th Street NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Fridays: 1:00 - 4:00
Jan 27 - Apr 14, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 291-6270
Larry Jackson Library
1700 North Florida Avenue
Lakeland, FL 33805
Mondays: 3:00 - 6:30
Jan 23 - Apr 3, 2023
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Mulberry Community Service Center
211 NW First Avenue
Mulberry, FL 33860
Wednesday, Apr 5
Monday, Apr 10
Wednesday, Apr 12
Friday, April 14
Walk in site - 10:00 - 3:00
(863) 425-1523
Women's Resource Center
165 Avenue A NW
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Wednesdays
Jan 25 - Apr 12, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 875-8379
Self Assisted/Self-Preparation Site
One More Child
Assisted Self-Preparation Site
1015 Sikes Boulevard
Lakeland, FL 33802
Tuesday: 9:00 - 12:00
Thursday: 1:00 - 4:00
Jan 24 - Apr 13, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 687-8811 x 2243
Self Assisted/Self-Preparation Site
Salvation Army
Assisted Self-Preparation Site
2620 Kathleen Road
Lakeland, FL 33810
Monday - Friday: 9:00 - 4:00
Jan 23 - Apr 18, 2023
By appointment only
(863) 853-2214
Saturday Tax-a-Thons
Crystal Lake Elementary
700 Galvin Dr
Lakeland, FL 33801
Saturday, Feb 25, 2023
10:00 - 3:00
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Saturday Tax-a-Thons
Hardee Help Center
713 E Bay Street
Wauchula, FL
Saturday, Feb 11, 2023
Saturday, Mar 4, 2023
10:00 - 3:00
Walk in site
(863) 425-1523
Coming Soon
Coming Soon